Automobile signal device.



L. E. JONES. AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. H. 1916.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.. 2 SHEETS-SHEETI L. E. JONES.

AUTOMOBILE SI GNAL DEVICE. APPLICATION HLED FEB-.11, 19I6'.

1,282,430. Patehted 22, 1918.

7 HEET 2 {for operating "in wh ch I device showing LAURENCE E. JONES, OF LIBERTY, MISSOURI.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL DEVICE.

Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22,1918.

Application filed February 11, 1916. Serial No. 77,626.

To all whom/ii may concern."

Be it known that l, LAURENCE E. Jones, a citizen of the United States of America, and a residentof Liberty, county of Glay, and State of Missourhhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Signal Devices, of which the following is a specification. f

The main objects of this invention are to provide an'improved signal apparatus arranged so asto indicate to drivers of other vehicles, the rear of the one on. which the signal is mounted, any proposed change the course or progress of such vehicle; to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the signaling mechanism embodying one signal for indicating a change iii the progress of the vehicle and another signal for indicating the direction of the change; to provide improved means for 1ndependentlyk controlling said signals; to proide an improved construction of the signs and their arrangement in the housing; and to provide improved means-for insuring the proper registration of the signs w th the sight opening or window in said housmg.

An illustrative embodiment of this inventioir is shown in the accompanying drawings Y Figure 1 is a front elevation of the signal certain of the'signs.

hand end view of the same removed.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the opposite Fig. dis an enlarged detail of one of'the .arn atnres and its connection for operating the signal member.

Fig. 5 15 a similar view of the armature the other signal member.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of the circuits and the switch controlling means" for the signals.

Fig; 7 is a sectional view taken on the line Reign Fig. 8 is an enlarged developmentof the which which indicates a change in the progress of the vehicle.

3, having-signs on the tion herein shown, the wordused. The sections If; and 17 have thereon the signals shifted to exposeindicates the direction of a change in the course of the vehicle. Fig. 9 is a similar View of the other sign are rotatably mounted signalqmem- 0 thereof meshing with periphery thereof which, through the rotation of the members,

moved into position to' be exposed through are adapted to be windows or openings 4 and 5 formed in the casing. The signal members 2 and 3 each comprise'spider wheels 6 and 7'rigidly secured to the respective shafts 8 and 9 which are @journaled in bearings formed on the bars 10 extending transversely across the.

casing 1. I

The signs 11 and '12 on the respective signal members are in the form of transparent or translucent material, such as T glass or celluloid. .The sign 11 is divided into two sections 13 and 1 1, and the sign 12 is divided into three sections 15, 1 6 and 17 On the respective signs the sections 13 and 15 are per fectly plain and may be made color, such asv red or green. The sections 14, 16 and 17 are preferably made white and the characters thereon made red so that they will beconspicuous in the daylight as well as night when illuminated from the interior. The section 14 contains suitable a conspicuous characters to indicate a change in the course or progress of the vehicle. In the construc- Stop is characters, such as arrows, forindicating the direction of changein the course of the vehicle. I

The mechanism for operating the signal member 2 comprises a rocker arm 18, pivoted at 19 in the-casing .1 and having a rack 20 formed on the other end thereof which meshes with a pinion 21 rigidly connected to the shaft 8. A spring 22 embraces the shaft 8 and has one arm thereof engaging a shoulder 23 on the rocker arm 18 and the spider-wheel 6. This spring acting upon 95. other arm secured to the hub of the adjacent both'the arm 18 and the signal member 2 normally urges the signal member into position to display the plain section 13 at the WindOwAl. The rocker arm 18 also constitutes an armature adjacent/to which are ar ranged a pair of electro-magnets 24: so as to actuate the same and cause pinion 21 to rotate the drum to move the section 14 of. the sign into registration with the window 4:. v

the rack 20'and Similar mechanism is providedfor 5 the I signal member 3. combined rocker arm and armature 25 is pivoted at 26 ftothe c'asing 1 and has a'rack 27 formed on the end a pinion 28 connected;-

the pinion 28 and has the inner end thereof bent to provide a finger 32 located between the .arms of the spring-29 sons to engage one or theother of said arms for facilitating the return of the signal member 3 to its normal position. Two sets of magnets 33 and 34 are located at opposite sides of the armature 25 for the purpose of actuating the same in opposite directions and causing one or the other of the sections 16 and i? of the sign 12 to be exposed through the window or opening 5. t

The magnets 2e, 33 and 3% have Wires leading therefrom to suitable binding posts on the casing from which. Wires lead to theswitch controlling means. 7 Separate switch. controlling means are provided, for each of the signal members. For

the signal member 2 a switch 35 is located in position to be actuated by the brake or clutch pedal 36 ot the vehicle and 1S normally urgedinto its open position so that the circuit to the magnets 24.

is normally open. thereby alloi ing the signal to occupy its normal position. The switch controlling means for the signal nien'iber 3 comprises a pair of contacts and 38 loos/ed on sta tionary part 39 of the steeri mechanism 40 of the vehicle and connect to the respectire magnets 33 and 34-. switch arm 41 is pivoted to the stationar part 39 and'is normally urged by a spring to occupy a neutral position between the contacts 3? and 38. .51. pair of should; s "*3 and it carried by the movable part of t: e steering mechanism 40 are arra ed on opposite-sides of the switch arm. 621 so to engage the same when the steer: mechanism is operated and Sllli watch arm in respectit v opposits directions for the purpose or" it to engage one or the oth :r of 3? and 38.

The signal members 2 and 3 being spaced apart axially, as more clearly indicated in Fig. 7, provides space between them whereby a light 45 is attached to the casing 1 so that by virtue of the open ends or the members, the sections registe with the Windows 4: and 5 are illunrinate...

In order to insure proper registration of the sections 14-, 16 and 17 with the windows 4 and 5 respectively, suitable coacting shoulders are arranged on the signal members :2 and 3 and the casing 1 for this purpose.

like the contacts F or the signal member 2 this comprises a 5i suitably positioned Within the casing 1= one of the spide s i" ders 52 and 53. p

T he signal device is designed for attachment to the rear of an automobile or other vehicle so as to be in conspicuous View of the drivers of vehicles following, so that they may be notified or any changein the course of the vehicle and act accordingly. 't is intended that the'license tag 46 should so as to engage shoulvious.

te'wise, a shoulder or pin 51 is located on 7 be suspended from the casing 1, there being an opening 47 in the bottom of thecasmg so ,7 that the tag is illuminated as Wlll be oh- Normally, when the vehicle is traveling straight ahead, the switch mechanisms controlling the magnets 24, and 3d occupy Y the operator upon shifting the foot pedal 36 closes switch and thereupon energizes the magnets 24. The attraction or" the armature 1S shifts the signal member'lz so that the section 14. hearing the word Stop is exposedthrough the Window 4: Which serves as 'a Warning to any vehicles followin The release of the foot pedal 36 Will break the circuit to the magnetsQl, whereupon the sig-' nal 2 "will return to its normal position, exposing the plain section 13 the Window 4. It it is the intention of the driver to turn, the correspoi' ding operation of the steering Wheel. causes the arm ll to be sh "'ed to enone or the other sets of the magnets 33 and 351.. The corresponding shifting of the armature 25 rotates the signal member 3 and moves one or the other of the sections 16 or 17 into registration with -thewindoW 5. The driver at the rear is thereupon notified that the vehicle is turning left or right, as the case may be and he is Warned to act 'accordingly. As soon as the vehicle has com pleted the turn, the switch 41 is shifted to its neutral position so that the circuit is broken to the magnets 33 and 34 and the armature 1.8 is shifted by the spring 29 into its normal position.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and tie gage one or the other of the contacts 3? and I so that the circuit Wlll be completed toscribed, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown maybe altered or-omitted Without departing from' the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim 1. A vehicle signal device comprising a iiaaaeaedow so as to indicate the direction in which the vehicle is to turn, means normally urging said drums to conceal said signs, mechanism for individually shifting said drums to expose said respective signs, and illuminating means arranged in said casing-so as to make said signs visible through said windows.

2. A vehicle signal device comprising a casing having a pair of-windows therein, a-

pair of drums rotatably mounted within said casing and spaced apart axially, a sign read ing Stop arranged on one of said drums adapted toregister with one of said windows for indicating that the forward movemento'f the vehicle is to be arrested, signs in the form of oppositely disposed arrows arranged on the other said druin spaced apart periph'erallyand adapted to be separately exposed through the other said window so as to indicate the direction in which the vehicle is to turn, means normally urgingsaid drums to conceal said signs, mech- -asing having a pair of windows anism for individually shifting said drums to expose said respective signs, and illuminatingmeans arranged in said casing so as to make said signs visible throiigh said windows. v

3. A vehicle signal device comprising a therein,

pair of drums rotatahly meimted within said. casing and spaced apart axially and having their opposite ends open, 'a'sign reading Stop: arranged on one of sait drums adapted to register with one of said windows for indicating that the forward movement of the vehicle is signs in the form of oppositely disposed arrows arranged on the other said drain spaced apart peripherally and adapted he separately exposed through the other said window so as to indicate the direction in which the vehicle is to turn, means normally urging said drums to conceal said signs, mechanism for individually shifting said drums to expose said respective signs, and'a single illuminating meansarranged in said casing.

between said drums whereby said one illuininating means serves to illuminate both of said drums and the respective windows throughthe open ends of said drums.

Signed at Kansas City, Mo., this8th day ofFeb.,1916.

- LAURENCE n. JUNES.

to be arrested, 

